Shuttlecock



Aug. 1, 1944. 3 o, BECK 4 2,354,790

SHUTTLECOCK Filed April 16, 1943 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLECOCK Bjorn 0.Beck, Newark, Ohio Application April 16, 1943, Serial No. 483,273

Claims.

This invention relates to a shuttlecock for use in playing such games asbadminton and other similar games, wherein the shuttlecock is struck byrackets in the hands of the players.

Shuttlecocks as heretofore known have generally been of such fragilenature that they could be used only a short time, often times no longerthan one game, and sometimes becoming damaged beyond use in less thanone game. By far the greater number of shuttlecocks here'- tofore in usehave used feathers for the tail piece, which feathers easily becamebroken thus rendering the shuttlecock incapable of further use. Also, toget the maximum of efliciency and use from a shuttlecock it is extremelyvital that the shape and construction of the same be precisely correctto fully meet the many rigid requirements in its use.

Among the objects of my invention are to overcome the disadvantages andmake possible the advantages referred to above.

A further object is to make a shuttlecock of plastic material of suchdurable construction as to have a long lifetime of active usefulness.

Another object is to provide a shuttlecock of such shape and arrangementof parts that it will meet the wide range of requirements of such adevice.

A still further object is to provide a novel shape and arrangement ofhead, and combination of the same with a novel form of tail vane so asto give the greatest efficiency and durability in use.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction, andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and

while I have shown therein a preferred embodi ment, I wish it understoodthat the same is susceptible of modification and change withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shuttlecock I embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking toward the free end of the vanes of theshuttlecock of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing my improved shuttlecockcomprises a head I integrally connected to the tail piece 2, the headbeing spherically shaped into the form of a cup, and the tail piecehaving a plurality of vanes 3,

preferably four, although other numbers of vanes may be used as desired,three also giving very good results.

The hollow cup-shaped head I at its central, inner, forward end 4, is ofgreater thickness than the marginal portions 5. The vanes 3 radiatelaterally outwardly from a common axis 6 which axis also passes throughthe center of the spherical cup-shaped head I. The vanes 3 shortlybeforethey join the head I, within the head, are of increased thickness asshown at 1, these thickened portions merging in the inclined shoulders 8into the thinner portions of the vanes 3, which vanes may be of taperingthickness or not, as desired.

It is thus seen that the thickened portions 1 and 8 of the vanestogether with the thicker portion 4 of the head are symmetricallyarranged with relation to the common axis of the tail piece and thehead. It is also to be noted that the vanes are flat, and are of smallerwidth at the bottom (as viewed in Fig. 2) and flare outwardly at the topto a width greater than the diameter of the head. The head may, however,be greater in diameter than the tail, if a speed that slow is desired.This increased width is greatest at the free end of the tail piece andis not extended too far back. This gives a quicker and more pronouncedturning over of the shuttlecock immediately after being struck.

The head I is preferably a littleless than a half. sphere in height (asviewed in Fig. 2), although this proportion might be somewhat deviatedfrom without departing from the spirit of my invention. The weight isconcentrated in the head by the increased thickness of the vanes andhead as described above, which gives the proper amount of increase inweight and strength of the head, to give the proper balance to theparts. The size of the head, controls the speed of flight, and may beincreased or decreased to obtain the desired resistance to flightthrough the air. The tail of my novel shuttlecock governs the directionand stability of flight and the head provides resistance to flight.

My improved shuttlecock is preferably made of plastic material of aresinous nature, many of the plastic resins being suitable, but I prefera plastic material that possesses suitabl lightness and yet considerabletoughness to give greater length of life .of usefulness. Among some ofthe possible plastic materials which I may usemay be mentionedthermo-plastic resins, thermo-setting resins, phenol-formaldehyde,phenol-furfural, synthetic resins, natural resins such as lignin, vinsoland the like, urea-formaldehyde, phenolic resins, vinyl resins,acetate-butyrate, vinyl esters, mixtures of vinyl esters and vinylbenzene, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, and otherresins and plastic materials obtainable on the market, some of which maybe obtained under trade names. The plastic material used may be moldedunder heat and pressure, or otherwise as desired, by any of the knownmethods for forming such plastic articles.

I prefer to make my novel shuttlecock of a plastic material that is nottoo brittle, but is sufiiciently tough that it will be capable of longuse without breaking or becoming damaged in normal use.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A shuttlecock comprising a hollow, spheroidal, cup-shaped head havingvanes integrally connected to the inside central part of the head andextending rearwardly therefrom, said vanes extending laterally radiallyin planes that intersect in a longitudinal axis common to both the vanesand the head, said vanes and head being made of plastic material, theforward central portion of the head being of greater thickness than themarginal portion.

2. A shuttlecock comprising a hollow, spheroidal, cup-shaped head havingvanes integrally connected to the inside central part of the head andextending rearwardly therefrom, said vanes 11 extending laterallyradially in planes that intersect in a, longitudinal axis common to boththe vanes and the head, said vanes and head being made of plasticmaterial, the forward central portion of the head being of than themarginal portion, and the ends of the vanes where they join the headbeing for a short distance thicker than the remaining portions of thevanes.

3. A shuttlecock of plastic material comprising an open hollow head theexterior face of which is substantially spherically shaped, the centralforward wall of the headbeing substantially thicker than the'remainingportion of the head, a plurality of radially extending vanes integrallyjoined with the thicker portion of the head, and inside of the head, thevanes and head being coaxial, those portions of the vanes at and to ashort distance away from the head being thicker than the remainingportions of the vanes,

said vanes for the greater portion of their length being of less totalwidth than the diameter of the head, and for the remainder of theirlength spreading outto a total width greater than the diameter of thehead, whereby when the shuttlecock head is. struck by a racket of aplayer the head will assist in reducing the speed of flight, theshuttlecock will quickly turn over, and the vanes will govern thedirection and stability of flight.

4. A shuttlecock comprising a cup-shaped head having a smooth outer faceand a substantially thin wall forming a hollow interior, vanesintegrally connected at one end to the inner face of the hollow head andextending rearwardly therefrom, said vanes extending laterally radiallyin planes that intersect in a longitudinal axis common to both the vanesand the head, the vanes each being flat from within the hollow headgreater thickness 1 head being laterally spaced from to their free ends,the radially extending intersecting vanes being positioned within thehollow of the head and extending a substantial distance out of the same,whereby when the shuttlecock head is struck by a racket of a player thehead will reduce the speed of flight, the shuttlecock will quickly turnover, and the vanes will govern the direction and stability of flight.

5. A shuttlecock comprising a cup-shaped head having a smooth outer faceand a substantially thin wall forming a hollow interior, a plurality ofintersecting vanes radiating from an axis common to that of both thevanes and th head, said vanes being connected to the inner face of thehollow head and extending rearwardly therefrom, the hollow open sides ofthe cup-shaped head facing toward the vanes, and the rim of the thevanes.

-6. A shuttlecock comprising a cup-shaped head having a convex outerface and an approximately thin curved wall having a circumferential freeedge rim and forming a hollow interior, a plurality of intersectingvanes radiating from an axis common to that of both the vanes and thehead, the radiating and intersecting part of said vanes extending intothe hollow head and being secured to the inner face thereof andprotruding rearwardly therefrom, whereby when struck the hollow headwill reduce the speed of flight, the shuttlecock will quickly turn over,and the vanes will govern the direction and stability of flight.

7. A shuttlecock comprising a hollow, cupshaped head having integrallyconnected therewith intersecting vanes radiating from an axis common tothat of both the'vanes and the head, the hollow open side of thecup-shaped head facing toward the vanes, said radiating vanes extendinginto the hollow of the cup-shaped head.

8. A shuttlecock comprising a hollow, cupshaped head having integrallyconnected therewith intersecting vanes radiating from an axis common tothat of both the vanes and the head, the hollow open side of thecup-shaped head facing toward the vanes, said radiating vanes extendinginto the hollow of the cup-shaped head, the ends of the vanes farthestremoved from the head being of greater width than the radiating vaneends that enter the hollow head.

9. A shuttlecock comprising a hollow, cupshaped head having integrallyconnected therewith vanes radiating from an axis common to that of boththe vanes and the head, the hollow open side of the cup-shaped headfacing toward the vanes, said radiating vanes extending into the hollowof the cup-shaped head, the ends of the vanes farthest removed from thehead being of an overall diametrical width greater than the diameter ofthe head.

10. A shuttlecock comprising a hollow, cupshaped head having vanesintegrally connected along angular junction lines to the inside centralportion of the head and extending rearwardly therefrom, said vanesextending laterally radially in planes that intersect in a longitudinalaxis common to that of both the vanes and the head, the intersectingvanes being spaced from the inside of the head except at the angularjunction lines where they are joined thereto.

BJORN O. BECK.

